Being born in the South, you are raised with a lot of preconceived notions. When you are young, you are taught to accept certain things without question.

Well, I’m really am glad I’m not young anymore. I’ve learned too much along the way that I don’t ever want to lose.

I admit, it might be nice to be 35 again. But I would never want to lose the knowledge and confidence that only comes with getting older.

Perceptions change with time, education and experience. We learn a lot of things we are told when we are young are simply not true. We learn life is a long, incredible endless journey that, hopefully, leads us to a truer knowledge of what’s real and not real.

Hopefully, we learn to find our own defining beliefs along the way…

Here are a few bits of personal knowledge I’ve picked up along the way:

Most “experts” aren’t. Especially, if they are a TV political pundit or a Financial Advisor.

Money is a concept, not a reality.

There is value in all work: There is a great need for incredibly talented plumbers, handymen and carpenters, among other professions, who have skills I lack.

The Religious Right isn’t really either. Religion and matters of faith and spirituality are a very personal journey and no one should try to impose their values on anyone else.

Diversity is really good for everyone. People need to accept the fact that we are a multi-cultural, multi-racial, multi-religious society and revel in the richness.

There is no education like travel. Especially international travel.

Pets are an essential part of the family–and you can love them more than some of your human family. That’s just fine…

Perception isn’t reality.

Some friends are of a time and a place, but others are forever. The forever friends are priceless.

An open mind and an open heart are the most important traits one can aspire to have.

I have to go to the gym whether I want to or not.

Don’t be afraid to go your own way and trust your own instincts.

Algebra really was a waste of time and is useless in real life.

It’s a good thing to question everything and form your own, educated opinions.

There is such a thing as a fact even if others refuse to recognize it as such.

For those of us who go to College, a Liberal Arts Education is invaluable. And it makes you really good a cocktail party chat.

Hangovers take much longer to recover from as you get older…Moderation is a very good thing.

After 40, good clothes and good grooming are really important. Messy, casual looks that work for younger people just make mature people look poor and homeless.

It’s better to try to understand people who are different from you than to judge and dismiss them. You are the loser if you don’t try to understand them.

Agree with Ray, here. I hated algebra and didn’t really grasp it until I took calculus later on. Surprisingly, I loved calculus — and it allowed me to understand what algebra was about.

And algebra has actually helped me. I wish I could deny its help. It punished me as a teenager, but rewarded me later.

Regarding clothing after a certain age: true. Still, there are some days when I just prefer to be a bum.

The liberal arts education, I was told when I studied, would be of more value after 40 than before. And it has been. I’m glad I didn’t specialize too much and focused on the humanities. But in my 20s, I wasn’t sure if it had been the right decision.

I doubt I could be a novelist — and enjoy it as much as I do — without that great education in literature. And the education never ends.